Locking device for railroad-track joints



- March 9 1926. r 1,576,314

E. DOZIER LOCKING DEVICE FOR RAILROAD TRACK JOINTS Filed Nov. 25, 1925 Ea cf Dozier Patented Mar. 9, 1926- PATENT @FFICE.

EDD DOZIER, OF VERSAILLES, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CARL H.

LEDENDECKEB, OF VERSAILLES, KENTUCKY.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR RAILROAD-TRACK JOINTS.

a lication filed November 25, 1925. 7 Serial No. 71,358.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that EDD Dozrnn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Versailles, State of Kentucky, county of of the rails and the fish plates, the locking device being such that it can be applied to all joints, and more especially to those occuring immediately adjacent the frog of a switch. In other words, the switch rail and the main rail extend at an angle to each other, a frog being used to hold them in position, and most looking devices of this character are incapable of being inserted downwardly between the two rails. To apply such locking devices, they have to be :moved laterally to engage with the nuts.

However, in the present construction the locking device can be dropped or "iserted vertically down between the rails and easily engaged with thenuts and then secured in position.

It is to be understood that the particulars herein given are in no way limitative and that while still keeping within the scope of the invention, any desired modifications of the detail and desired proportions may be made in the apparatus according to the circumstances.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as will be hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed. v

In the drawings Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a railroad track joint, showing the improved locking device applied and constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sect onal .view on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed perspective view of one of the plates which is carried by certain of the bolts of the joint.

Figure 5 is a detailed perspective View of one end of the locking device.

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the washers 14.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate the joining end portions of two rails,

the adjacent extremities of which define a conventional joint. Opposed fish plates 3 and 4: are provided. form to and fit the webs of the rails, the bases 5 of the fish plates also conforming to and fitting the opposite portions of the rail bases, while the vertical parts of the fish plates fit between the under portions of the balls of the rails and the bases thereof.

Conventional bolts 6 pass through the fish plates and through the webs of the rails. These bolts have rectangular portions 7 'inmediately adjacent their heads 8, said rectangular portions fitting within correspondingly shaped openings 9 of the fish plate't, there being suitable washers 10 between the heads 8 and the face of the fish plate 4. By this construction the bolts are prevented from turning. it is tobe noted that the openings 9' are elongated, that is to say, in a horizontal direction, in order to prevent binding and to allow movement of the fish plates due to expansion and contraction. The cylindrical portions of thebolts 6 pass through elongated openings 11 and 12 of the webs and the fish plate 3, such elongated openings also allowing the rails and the fish plate 3 relative movement due to expansion and contraction.

The usual nuts 13 are threaded upon the ends of the bolts 6, and between them and the fish plate 3 suitable washers 1d are applied. These washers are of the spring split type, the split ends thereof being sprung laterally, ofiering resistance to the nuts 18 as they are applied to the bolts, thereby insuring a secure, close and tight fit of the nuts on the bolts, and furthermore, to insure a constant clamped action between the several elements of the railroad joint.

There have been different locking devices 'to prevent the nuts 13 frombaclring off, but those which may have any bearing on this construction are so designed that it is necessary to apply them by lateral movements, that is, in. a horizontal "directionto cause them to engage with the nuts. Obviously, locking devices so applied cannot be used in connection with railroad track joints immediately adjacent a frog of a switch. That is, where a switch rail is disposed at a very slight angle to the main rail. It is impractical to insert the locking device downward These fish plates cona horizontal direction.

1y into the crotch between the switch rail and the main rail, so that the locking device can be moved laterally in However, with the present locking device it is possible to insert the locking element 15 vertically clownwardlybetween the switch rail and the main rail immediately adjacent the apex of the crotch, or rather in the V caused to be formed by disposing the switch rail at a slight angleto the main rail. In inserting the locking element or device 15 in this manner, its notches 16 straddle the nuts, and, obviously, when the locking element is secured, the nuts are prevented from turning or backing off.

To hold the locking element or device in position engaged with the nuts, plates 1'? are provided. These plates have elongated openings 18, which receive certain of the bolts of the joint, that is, the end bolts, said plates 17 being interposed between the spring split washers 14 and the face of the fish plate 8. Vlhere the openings 18 are formed, the plates 1'? have extension ears 19. The plates '17 also have lateral ears 20, which are provided with slightly elongated openings 21. After applying the plates 1? in position, the nuts 18 are secured upon the bolts, but not entirely home. Consequently, the plates 17 are loose. The locking device or element is then temporarily applied to the nuts 13, and as the notches 16 are in the act of straddling the nuts, the inclined edges 22- at the opposite ends of the locking ClBViOB or element wedge against the edges of the lateral ears 20, thereby causing the plates 17 to adjust themselves in their proper positions. The locking device or element is then removed for the time being and the nuts 13 are then turned home, that is, tightened and adjusted to the position shown in Figure 1. The locking element is again applied, and this time permanently, in which case the end projections 23, (which extend downwardly) of the locking element enter the elongated openings 21 of the ears 20 of the plate 17. The lower portions of the projections 28 have openings for the reception of cotter keys or pins 24, thereby holding the locking element securely connected to the lateral means of the plates 17, and hence, preventing any derangement of the various parts. Obviously, the nuts 13 are prevented from backing off, and at all times rendering the railroad track joint secure. "The usual spikes 25 areused to engage the bases of the fish plates in order to secure the rails to the ties, (not shown). The plates 17 are so disposed that their lower edges 26 rest upon the upper surfaces of the bases of the fish plates, thereby preventing any turning movement of the plates.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed is 1. In a locking device for railroad track joints, the combination with adjoining end portions of a pair of rails includingfish plates positioned in contact with the webs 0t the rails with bolts passing through said parts and nuts thereon to hold them" together, of plates mounted upon the end bolts and provided with lateral ears, and a looking element with notches applicable to the nuts in a vertical direction parallel with one of the fish plates and having downwardl extending end projections passing throug the ears, and provided with means to hold them in position and preventing upward movement of the element.

2. In a locking device for a railroad track joint, the combination with adjoining end portions of a pair of rails, including fish plates, and bolts passing through the fish plates and the rails with nuts thereon, of plates initially loose upon the end bolts and provided with lateral ears, a locking element comprising an elongated bar with notches applicable in a vertical direction parallel with one of the fish plates, whereby the notches may straddle the nuts temporarily, said bar having inclined edges to cooperate with the ears, to adjust the plates in their proper positions. 2'

3. In a locking device for a railroad track joint, the combination with adjoining end portions of a pair of rails, including fish plates, and. bolts passing through the fish plates and the rails with nuts thereon, of plates initially loose upon the end bolts and provided with lateralears, a locking element comprising an elongated bar with notches applicable in a vertical direction parallel with one of the fish plates, whereby the notches may straddle the nuts temporarily, said bar having inclined edges to cooperate with the ears, to adjust the plates in their proper positions, said bar having downwardly extending end projections to pass through the ears when applying the bar, and means passing through the lower ends of the pr jections to prevent upward movement of the ture is hereunto afiixed.

EDD DOZIER. 

